Liriope muscari plant named &#39;LIRJ&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘LIRJ’ is a distinctive variety of  Liriope muscari  which is characterized by the combination of medium-tall plant height combined with narrow-medium leaf width, very thick leaf thickness, dense foliage and a purple violet flower color.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Liriope muscari.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Liriope disclosed herein has been given thevariety denomination ‘LIRJ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety ofLiriope muscari, which has been given the variety denomination of‘LIRJ’. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. ‘LIRJ’ isintended for use in landscaping and as a decorative plant.

The Liriope muscari variety ‘LIRJ’ was finally selected in 2002 in anAustralian nursery in the state of New South Wales following a selectionprocess carried out from 1999 to 2002 involving approximately 30000seedlings of Liriope muscari. ‘LIRJ’ is a seedling selection from openpollinated Liriope muscari. ‘LIRJ’ was selected due to its medium-tallplant height combined with narrow-medium leaf width and dense foliage.‘LIRJ’ was first propagated asexually by division in the state of NewSouth Wales, Australia and has since been asexually propagated bydivision and micropropagation. The distinctive characteristics of theinventive ‘LIRJ’ variety are stable from generation to generation;clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain thedistinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

‘LIRJ’ has an upright growth habit with a very strong shoot densitywhereas Liriope muscari has an upright to semi upright growth habit,tending to spread more, with a medium shoot density. ‘LIRJ’ has a tallplant height (60-65 cm in Sydney, NSW Australia) whereas Liriope muscarihas a medium plant height (40-50 cm). ‘LIRJ’ has a narrow-medium leafwidth (mean 7.5 mm in Sydney, NSW Australia) whereas Liriope muscari hasa broad leaf width (mean 8 mm). ‘LIRJ’ has a thick leaf (mean 0.80 mm)whereas Liriope muscari has a medium leaf thickness (mean approximately0.60 mm).

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘LIRJ’ has beenlodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was firstgazefted in 27 March 2006 under Application No. 2006/037.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘LIRJ’ is a distinctive variety of Liriope muscari which ischaracterized by the combination of its medium-tall plant heightcombined with narrow-medium leaf width, broad leaf thickness, densefoliage and a purple violet flower color corresponding to RHS 82B.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a ‘LIRJ’ plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Liriope muscari ornamental plant known as ‘LIRJ’. Plantobservations were made on plants grown in New South Wales, Australia.Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are basedupon observations made in February 2006 of mature ‘LIRJ’ plants grown innursery pots.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘LIRJ’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions,sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to beunderstood that such characteristics are approximations or averages setforth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 1995 edition. Note that genericcolor descriptions such as ‘pink’ do not exist in the RHS charts and‘purple’ color may be referred to more specifically by the correspondingRHS colors quoted.

‘LIRJ’ is a perennial Liriope muscari plant which is a seedlingselection from Liriope muscari. After its selection, ‘LIRJ’ wasasexually propagated by division and then by micropropagation. ‘LIRJ’has a green leaf color corresponding to yellow green (RHS 146A) andpurple violet flowers (flower color corresponding to RHS 82B) displayedwithin the foliage.

These features and other characteristics are apparent from thedescription provided below.

-   Growth habit, dimensions and color: ‘LIRJ’ is a medium-tall plant    forming an upright clump with slightly spreading leaves and arching    and weeping leaves as the foliage matures. Average plant height is    to 60-65 cm and average plant spread is to 90-95 cm in a mature    plant grown in a garden in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia    (observed January 2007). A representative ‘LIRJ’ plant is shown in    FIG. 1. The upper side of the mature leaf is yellow green in color    (observed January 2007) corresponding to approximately RHS 146A.    Leaf margins and mid ribs do not contrast prominently with the leaf    blade. The leaf lower side color corresponds to the upper leaf side    but has a less glossy surface texture. The leaf width is    narrow-medium (mean 7.5 mm), and reaches an average length of 60 cm    in Sydney, NSW, Australia. The leaf thickness (mean 0.80 mm) is    greater than usual. The leaf shape is ligulate-ensiform, leaf base    is cauline, leaf margin is entire, leaf apex is acute and leaf    surface texture is glossy and glabrous. The leaf venation pattern is    parallel; the color is the same as the rest of the leaf. The leaf    attitude is erect to semi erect with arching and weeping of foliage    at maturity.-   Roots: The roots of ‘LIRJ’ are colored white (approximately RHS    155C) and fleshy and thick, similar to other Liriope muscari.-   Inflorescence: The inflorescence is a raceme with flowers borne in    clusters of typically 3. Each flower cluster consists of pedicellate    flowers ranging from very a short pedicel length (almost sessile;    less than 1 mm) to up to 5 mm long. Inflorescence length is    approximately 20-25 cm on average and the raceme position is within    the foliage at anthesis. Raceme length is 11-15 cm on average.    Peduncle color is grayed purple (RHS 183A-B) mixed with yellow green    (approximately RHS 146C-D) creating an overall purple appearance.    Each flower cluster is subtended by a small bract colored yellow    green (approximately RHS 146C). Pedicel color is initially white    (RHS 155C) changing to purple violet (RHS 82D) as the flower opens.    The flowering season in Sydney, NSW, Australia is early December    until Late February.-   Flowers: Flower bud color is yellow (RHS 11D) (immature) and purple    violet (RHS 82C-D) just prior to opening. Mature petal color is    purple violet (RHS 82B). Anthers are yellow RHS 6B. Flower diameter    is approximately 5-7 mm when fully opened.-   Comparison of lirf with other varieties of liriope muscari: ‘LIRJ’    differs from the variety ‘Evergreen Giant’ (unpatented) as it has a    narrow-medium leaf width (mean 7.5 mm), very dense foliage and    lighter purple violet colored flowers corresponding to purple violet    (RHS 82B). whereas ‘Evergreen Giant’ has a medium leaf width (8-10    mm), a weak density foliage and lighter looking purple violet    colored flowers (corresponding to RHS 82D). ‘LIRJ’ has a plant    height of 60-65 cm whereas ‘Evergreen Giant’ has a plant height of    70-75 cm. ‘LIRJ’ has a very thick leaf thickness (mean 0.80 mm)    creating a strong leaf whereas ‘Evergreen Giant’ has a medium leaf    thickness (mean 0.60 mm). ‘LIRJ’ has flowers borne in clusters of 3    along the whole peduncle whereas ‘Evergreen Giant’ has flowers borne    in clusters of 4 towards the base changing to clusters of 3 towards    the apex. ‘LIRJ’ differs from the variety ‘Big Blue’ (unpatented) as    it has a narrow-medium leaf width (mean 7.5 mm), very dense foliage    and lighter purple violet colored flowers (corresponding to RHS 82D)    whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a broad leaf width (mean 12.1 mm) and medium    density foliage and darker looking violet colored flowers    (corresponding to RHS 83C). ‘LIRJ’ differs from the variety ‘Bigun’    (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,474), as it has a narrow-medium leaf width    (mean 7.5 mm), an absence of leaf twisting and purple violet colored    flowers (corresponding to RHS 82D) whereas ‘Bigun’ has a broad leaf    width (to 18 mm), leaf twisting present and flower color    corresponding to violet blue (RHS 92A). ‘LIRJ’ differs from the    variety ‘Royal Purple’ (unpatented) as it has a narrow-medium leaf    width (mean 7.5 mm), strong shoot density and an inflorescence    displaying flowers within the foliage whereas ‘Royal Purple’ has a    broad leaf width (mean 12 mm), weak shoot density and an    inflorescence displaying flowers slightly above the foliage. The    combination of its medium-tall plant height combined with    narrow-medium leaf width, very thick leaf thickness, dense foliage    and a purple violet flower color makes ‘LIRJ’ a desirable ornamental    plant suited for mass production for pot and landscape use.-   Asexual reproduction: After its initial discovery, ‘LIRJ’ was    transplanted into a 140 mm pot for further trials and testing. After    divisions were made for several subsequent generations, ‘LIRJ’ was    observed to retain color and size characteristics that were noted in    the original ‘LIRJ’ seedling. Divisions of ‘LIRJ’ root within 2 to 3    weeks. ‘LIRJ’ was divided into several pots for further evaluation.    Potting mix used contained 50% sand and 50% peat. Plants were    divided into 90 mm×50 mm×50 mm tubes. ‘LIRJ’ has been propagated in    vitro using micropropagation and has been observed to reproduce from    generation to generation in a uniform and stable manner maintaining    original color and size characteristics.-   Environmental tolerances: ‘LIRJ’ has typical shade tolerance for the    species and performed the same as the variety ‘Evergreen Giant’ in    garden trials at Clarendon, NSW, Australia. The winter hardiness of    ‘LIRJ’ is at least to zone 5A in the United States, and evaluation    of winter hardiness is ongoing. ‘LIRJ’ has drought tolerance similar    to the variety ‘Evergreen Giant’ with moderate to good recovery with    watering after severe wilting. ‘LIRJ’ survived and grew well over 2    years in garden trials in sandy and clay soils, but also tolerates    heavy, clay-type soils at Clarendon, NSW, Australia.-   Disease resistance: ‘LIRJ’ has typical resistance to fungal and    bacterial pathogens compared to other similar Liriope muscari    cultivars as demonstrated in garden trials with survival and growth    vigor similar to the variety ‘Evergreen Giant’ at Clarendon, NSW,    Australia.

1. A new and distinct variety of Liriope muscari plant named ‘LIRJ’,substantially as described and illustrated herein.